Rozenburgs Mannenkoor
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The history of the much-praised 'Rozenburgs Mannenkoor', which attracts full halls with its concerts at home and abroad, goes back to 1927. Inspired by the performance of a male choir from neighbouring Maassluis, thirty Rozenburgers founded their own choir on 22 March of that year. Due to the isolation of the purely agricultural island of Rozenburg at that time, it took a long time for the 'Rozenburgs Mannenkoor' to gain the wide recognition it now enjoys.
In the fifties, the explosive development of the petrochemical industry began in the current Europoort-Botlek area. The agricultural character of Rozenburg was lost as a result, but the isolation was also broken: bridges were built, the Botlek tunnel dug, islands and an extensive road network constructed. Rozenburg and Voorne-Putten have long since ceased to be islands. The development was accompanied by an unstoppable influx of young families who came from far and wide to try their luck in this highly industrialised area of the Netherlands. For the social and cultural life on Voorne-Putten and Rozenburg, a period of unprecedented growth and prosperity began with the development.
New members flowed into the 'Rozenburgs Mannenkoor'. With major concerts throughout the Netherlands, but also in Belgium, Germany and Austria (Vienna), the Rozenburg singers reaped laurels, as well as with their gramophone record and CD productions and radio and television appearances.
At the end of 1990, 28-year-old Arjan Breukhoven was appointed director-conductor. He, who graduated from the Royal Conservatory in The Hague as an organist and choir conductor, knows how to inspire the choir with a fresh and modern approach. With currently one hundred and forty members, originating from the entire Voorne-Putten and Rozenburg area, but also from Maassluis, Spijkenisse and Hoogvliet, even Rotterdam, the 'Rozenburgs Mannenkoor' can look to the future with optimism.
